About 25 homes evacuated in S. Calif. wildfire

HEMET, Calif. 
Authorities say a wildfire in rural Riverside County has spurred the evacuation of about two dozen homes.

State fire officials said in a statement that the fire broke out Monday shortly before 2 p.m. in the community of Mountain Center between Palm Springs and Hemet. Hours later it had surged to about 1,000 acres.

Officials say the fire has damaged structures but could not immediately say how many, how severe the damages or what the buildings were.

Evacuations have been ordered for about 20 homes in the community of Bonita Vista, about four homes in Fleming Ranch and an animal sanctuary.

The fire also forced the partial closure of two highways.

More than 400 state and federal firefighter had the blaze 5 percent contained.